The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-27
Sense of smell in Dogs.

Mr.. George j. Romanes has communicated
to the Linnean society the results of series Of ex
periments, made by him, to test the strength and
acuteness of the sense Of smell in dogs. The paper
is reprinted in Nature, and will be found Of interest
and value, He cites the Of terrier who could
not be thrown Off his masters track upon the pave
ment of Regents park, although this track was
crossed and recrossed by hundreds Of fresher ones
and by thousands tnat were not so fresh. To make
test with a setter, the master had his men in In
dian file, and the gamekeeper brought up the rear
of the line. Each placed his feet in the foot
prints Of his predecessor.
The masters scent was most overlaid, that of t&9
gam keeper was freshest. When they had gone
200 yards the master turned to the right, followed
by five of the men, the other six turned to the left
keeping their usual order. The setter followed the
common track with such ca serness as 10 over
shoot the point of divergence but quickly regain
ing this point chose at the track to the right.
The master and stranger to the dog exchanged
boots and then went different ways The setter fol-
lowed its masters boots, and found the stranger.
When the master and stranger walked the park
with bare feet the setter followed its masters trail
but not with the eagerness with which lit followed
the trail Of his boots
When he walked in new shooting boots the set
ter would not follow.
The master glued a single thickness of brown pa
per to the soles and sides Of his old shooting boots.
The setter did not take the trail until IT came to a
pOInI Wnere tne paper, HuNlnB WOIu HWhyJ Ine bOie
of one heel touched the ground. Then the dog rec
ognized the trail at once.
Walking in new cotton socks left no trail that the
setter could follow; in wooden socks that had been
worn day the trail was followed but not eagerly.
The master walked fifty yards in his shooting
boots then kicked them Off and carried them with
him, while he walked in stockings 800 yards, then
he took off his stocki igs, and walked another 300
yards barefoot. When the settler was put upon the
track at the outset 1t followed with usual eagerness,
and kept up the pursuit through the whole distance.
Accompanied by stranger 10 the dog, the master
rode out along "A carriage way, several hundred
yards from the house then he alighted and walked
in his shooting boots 50 yards beside the carriage
He then entered the carriage and bB friend got out
and walked 500 yards along the way. The setter
ran the whole 20 yards at full speed, without max
ing any pause at the point where the scent
changed
The master walked in his ordinary shooting boots,
having lrst soaked them in oil Of anise seed. Al
though the odOr Of the anse seed strong 20
be perceived by friend hour after the trail was
made the dog followed the track Of Its MASTER thus
disgulsed with usual speed, after having examined
the first three or four steps carefully.
Other experiments tested the power Of scent
through the ar The master walked down a tram
pied field by a zigzag course, for quarter ola mile
then turned to side, got over O Stone WALL and
walked back toward the house The stone wall was
breast high and about 100 yards 10 tho windward u
his course down the field. The dog taxing the tai
at the top Of the field followed rapidly It's master
winding course.
The moment it gained the "wlnd's eye of the
place where he was standing, with only his eyes
above the TOP Of the wall the dog threw up is head,
turned from the track II was following and went
straight 70 It's owner. And yet there were ut the
time several oyerbeated laborerers near II in the
field.
Backache is almost Immediately relieved by
wearing one Of Carter's Smart Weed and Bel
,adonna Backache Plasters. Try one and be
rec fr0m pain. Price % cents.